UA reaches tentative agreement with UO on eve of strike

Faculty at the University of Oregon were set to go on strike Monday morning, the first day back from spring break. UA held a practice picket before spring break and kept up the pressure on the university saying that they would strike if the administration did not give them a fair contract. However the union says with a long weekend of meditiation they were able to reach a tentative agreement (TA).

The deal was announced by the union and the university just hours before the strike was scheduled. Those close to campus labor, will be reminded of GTFF in 2024 and SEIU in 2019. Each came within days of a strike. In fact several people at the practice picket line talked about these as a case example, where just the threat of a strike causes the university to become more serious at the bargaining table.

In the tentative agreement almost all classifications will receive 12.75% raise over three years. The union highlights the win of making sure not all salary increases were through merit pay. They additionally say In addition faculty will receive a one-time payment of $2K, prorated by FTE.

The University agreed to 2% across the board raises in 2026 for tenure-related faculty in exchange for sunsetting the tenure reduction program (TRP). The program gives tenure faculty a way of getting a 6% bump in pay in agreement that they would go part time in three years. The TA states that university will cease new signups to TRP on Dec. 15, 2025.

The next steps are UA will hold multiple informational sessions. Members will be able to vote starting Wednesday at noon until Friday at 4:59 PM. While the bargaining team says this contract is not everything they wanted, they still encourgage a yes vote and encourage members to keep the heat on adminstration next bargaining round.

Below are the highlights of salary deal provided by UA:

Tenure related:

• One time payment: $2000 (prorated by FTE)
• April 2025: 4.5% Across-the-board
• September 2025: 3.25% Across-the-board
• September 2026: 2% Across-the-board, 3% Merit.

Career Instructors:

• One time payment: $2000 (prorated by FTE)
• April 2025: 4.5% Across-the-board
• September 2025: 2% Equity, 3.25% Across-the-board
• September 2026: 3% Across-the-board + unused portion of Equity pool Across-the-board.

Career Researchers:

• One time payment: $2000 (prorated by FTE)
• April 2025: 4.5% Across-the-board
• September 2025: 4.25% Across-the-board
• September 2026: 3% Across-the-board

Postdocs:

• One time payment: $2000 (prorated by FTE)
• April 2025: At least 2% Across-the-board
• September 2025: At least 2% Across-the-board
• September 2026: At least 2% Across-the-board

Limited Duration:

• One time payment: $2000 (prorated by FTE)
• April 2025: 4.5% Across-the-board
• September 2025: 2% Across-the-board
• September 2026: 2% Across-the-board

The Tenure Reduction Program will be sunsetted with new sign-ups ending December 15, 2025 and no impact to existing agreements.